Brian Howard

LTJG Brian Howard serves as a contracting officer within the U.S. Coast Guard’s SFLC Procurement Branch 2 (70Z085), where he manages critical acquisitions for the sustainment, modernization, and repair of the Coast Guard’s fleet of cutters and maritime vessels. His responsibilities encompass the full lifecycle of shipbuilding and maintenance contracts, ensuring operational readiness across coastal, offshore, and open-ocean missions. Howard specializes in complex naval infrastructure procurements, including propulsion systems, hull modifications, and dry-dock maintenance services, aligning with the Coast Guard’s strategic imperative to maintain a resilient and technologically advanced maritime force. He operates within a highly regulated federal procurement environment, applying DFARS and FAR guidelines to ensure compliance, competition, and mission effectiveness. Howard maintains consistent working relationships with key industrial partners including Rolls-Royce Solutions America Inc., Vigor Marine LLC, JAG Industrial Services, Inc., G I Industrial-Marine, LLC, and L1 Enterprises Incorporated. These contractors provide specialized shipyard services, marine propulsion upgrades, and vessel repair solutions critical to sustaining the Coast Guard’s operational fleet. His procurement approach emphasizes long-term vendor partnerships grounded in technical expertise, quality assurance, and on-time delivery, particularly for mission-critical maintenance windows and emergency repair events. Howard’s contracting portfolio reflects a strict focus on full and open competition, with 100% of awards issued under no set-aside classifications. He does not utilize 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or other socioeconomic programs, instead prioritizing technical capability and industrial capacity over socioeconomic categorization. This reflects the specialized nature of naval shipbuilding and repair, where only a limited number of qualified industrial providers possess the required certifications and facilities. His primary NAICS classification is 336611 (Ship Building and Repairing), with all acquisitions centered on naval vessel maintenance, structural refurbishment, and propulsion system integration. Howard’s domain expertise lies in marine engineering systems, dry-dock scheduling, and Coast Guard-specific regulatory compliance, ensuring that all contracted work meets stringent maritime safety and operational standards.